Rainy days and play cafes – Life in India

Life in India – Diary of an American Expat.

August in India

It’s August which means it’s the season for rain, humidity, technicolor skies and fresh, clean air. The first half of the month is hot and muggy but By the end of the month it will still be warm enough to swim during the day and the nights will be pleasant. In other words, perfect. It’s why I include August in as one of the best months to visit India.

Independence Day

This month we Celebrated Independence Day! I took the opportunity to dress my kids in festive clothing. I bought two small flags on the street for about a quarter. They looked adorable. Every single person we passed couldn’t stop gushing about how cute they were.

New Delhi walking tour

This month I took a tour with Salaam Balaak Trust a non-profit that cares for “street children.” They provide food, education, and shelter for anyone under the age of 18. Once they turn 18 the kids need to make a living. One of the ways they do that is by becoming a salaried tour guide through the non-profits tour program. All the funds go directly to the kids. It’s a really great program and I’m not the only one who thinks so. At their main office, the walls are lined with images of members of the NGO posing with Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, and Prince William. To read more about the tour, the program and how you can help, visit Salaam Balaak Trust online.

Delhi’s Parks

The public parks here in Delhi are impressive. I especially love Sunder Nursery which has immaculate landscaping over 90 acres. It’s home to several UNESCO world heritage sites. In the back, you’ll find educational walking trails with the micro-habitats of Delhi’s past. To read more about Sunder nursery and a list of all my favorite parks in Delhi click HERE.

The luxury of play cafes

Play cafes are part cafe, part child play area. I’m not talking about Chuck E Cheeses here. I’m talking about modern cafes with great food, WiFi and music with an attached area for kids to play. Oh, and the attached area is staffed with childcare attendants. So when you go out with your friends who have kids you are actually going to be able to talk to them! It’s also a great place to get some work done or have a meal in peace. The mall by my house has three all with different themes. One is actually a work-play space where in addition to the play and dining areas, you have a separate area (glassed in for soundproofing) with desks, workstations, and group meeting rooms.

As I type this, I am sitting in a play cafe. My son is building LEGO’s with an attendant and my daughter is playing cars with an older child. Ok, now my son has convinced the attendant that he needs a piggy back ride but you get the idea. Play cafes are not unique to India and can be found throughout much of ASIA. I especially love play cafes because I am a stay at home mom who’s kids are not yet in preschool. We visit a play cafe at least once a week so they can play in new environments, with new toys, new kids and learn to trust adults other than myself. It’s also where I get 90% of my writing done 😉 If you missed the video at the top of this post, scroll back up and press play!

Have you ever thought about taking a trip but felt it would be impossible to go with young kids? I've been there. When I found out I was having twins, I thought my travel days would be put on hold for a while. The thought of going to the grocery store with my new twins was daunting enough. Then we accepted an expat post abroad and moved our brand new family to the other side of the world from Hawaii to India! This has given us the opportunity to travel more than ever before. I'm showing these kids the world and hope to help you do the same! These are my adventures with children.